Former Red facing backlash at Feyenoord amid poor form claims

It’s not often we see a former Liverpool academy product come under this kind of scrutiny, but Raheem Sterling is now facing serious questions about his impact at Feyenoord.

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The winger, who once lit up Anfield as one of the most exciting young talents in the country, is reportedly struggling to make the expected impression in the Netherlands after his mid-season move.

Sterling criticised after underwhelming Feyenoord start

Starting debut
Raheem Sterling#nacfey pic.twitter.com/NpgJO3y6Lw

— Feyenoord Rotterdam (@Feyenoord) March 8, 2026

According to Mirror Football, there are already doubts about the England international’s influence, despite the initial excitement surrounding his arrival.

The report states: “he’s causing Robin van Persie a big problem”, highlighting how the move hasn’t quite gone to plan so far.

Dutch football expert Michael Statham didn’t hold back when assessing the early reaction.

He explained: “I do think that there have been some comments, there have been some people [who are] maybe not thinking it’s the most successful move and are a bit surprised he’s not actually as good as people thought he would be.”

That’s a stark contrast to the expectations placed on the 31-year-old when he arrived, with Feyenoord hoping his experience would help secure Champions League qualification.

Instead, there’s now a growing feeling that the gamble may not pay off, particularly with pressure mounting on Robin van Persie as manager.

From Liverpool promise to inconsistent career path

From our perspective, it’s a reminder of just how high Sterling’s ceiling once looked when he broke through at Liverpool.

The Jamaican-born forward joined us as a teenager and quickly became a key part of a devastating attack alongside Luis Suarez and Daniel Sturridge, earning widespread praise for his fearless dribbling and direct style.

His controversial move to Manchester City ultimately brought trophies and individual success, with Rio Ferdinand even arguing he made the right decision to chase silverware at that stage of his career.

However, the latter years saw us reject a move for him, a transfer to Chelsea, a loan spell at Arsenal and now this uncertain period in Rotterdam – suggesting a player who hasn’t quite been able to maintain that elite level consistently.

There’s still time for Sterling to turn things around, and even this report notes slight improvement in recent appearances, but right now the narrative is clear.

For a player who once looked destined to dominate for many more years, this latest chapter feels like another reminder of how quickly football can change.

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